Investigators concluded that the truck driver in the trailer intentionally crashed into a Nigerian Easter procession, killing six Christians, sources said.
More than 30 Christians were hospitalized on April 21 when the truck plunged into Easter Monday’s procession in Biliri, Gombe state in northeastern Nigeria, officials said.
Police initially attributed the incident to a brake failure, but a committee formed by Gombe State officials concluded that the driver intentionally cultivated the procession. The witness reportedly said that before slamming the procession it didn’t slow or squeal, but there was no problem stopping.
Ad hoc committee chair Rambi Ayala told reporters that 18 of the injured were still undergoing treatment at Gombe hospitals. He identified Christians as killing Grace David, Clement Lacathon, Ephraim Ibrahim, Faida P. Usuras, Joy Mera and Praise Aiba.
Two community leaders in Biliri, Ander Tadi and David Johanna, said during a press conference that an 18-wheel trailer truck full of grain for Christians from behind Tashan Gona Junction is bored.
“As soon as the Muslim driver saw the Christian crowd in front of him, he speeded up his speed without squealing his horns and bumped into the group from behind them,” they said. “He reaped some Christians… Some of these Christians will be hurt forever, and their lives will not remain the same.”
The driver stopped the vehicle and ran towards police observing the assault, Tadi and Johanna said.
“The officer immediately put the driver in the car and drove with him, leaving both the body trapped under the driver’s loaded trailer and the living body,” they said. “The joy and dance have now turned into crying and lamenting. Some Christians have come to rescue the victims and tried to remove them from under the heavy vehicles.”
The injured were rushed to Biliri General Hospital, where there were no emergency items or medications, they said.
“The hospital pharmacy itself was closed and there was no one there while on duty,” they said. “The volunteer health workers there had to get emergency medicines and items from a nearby pharmacy.”
The attack by a driver identified as Usman Muhammad by Gombe State Police continued that morning incident in Bilili, they said. At about 6:30am, the car ran to the man and daughter on a motorcycle that had arrived from Easter Service.
“This first incident occurred at the entrance to Biliri Federal Government University,” they said. “The young Christian girl suffered several injuries and her legs were bandaged to reduce bleeding. Her dad took her away for a doctor’s appointment.”
During a Christmas celebration in Gombe city last December, they said, “A truck driven by a Muslim driver ran into a Christian crowd and injured up to 15 Christians.” “Now we’re watching this over and over in the town of Biliri.”
In 2019, a Muslim police officer deliberately drove his car into a group of Christian youths, killing 10 people who injured more than 30 people by members of the Young Brigade, who were celebrating Easter in Gombe City.
Gombe State Police Command spokesman Buhari Abdullahi said in a statement at the press conference that truck driver Muhammed had been charged in court.
“The 28-year-old Muhammad, a man and a 28-year-old man from Afghanistan district are formally charged with (1) uncontested driving, and (2) causing deaths from dangerous driving, and the matter will go to court,” Abdullahi said.
Regional resident Nathaniel Chechera said what began as a fun Easter celebration has turned into a tragedy.
“Christians who were simply trying to express their faith and joy were in mourning,” Chechera told Morningstar News, adding that such attacks were entertainment for terrorists who elicited joy in killing Christians who viewed these acts as worship of Jihad and Allah.
“This is not the first time. Gombe’s Christian Festive Seasons is becoming an increasingly saddened moment due to the reckless and heartless actions of some Muslim truckers,” Chechera said. “This cycle of bloody Gombe states must end because it’s not just a ‘accident’. They are avoidable tragedy. ”
Heffen Elima, another resident of Biliri town, said his heart was heavy.
“One more, tragedy struck at an Easter rally in Gombe. Life was lost, family shattered, dreams were shortened,” Yerima told Morningstar News. “This isn’t the first time. It’s actually the third. It’s becoming a heartbreaking pattern. This consistent loss of life is a pattern of targets towards Christians.”
According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, Nigeria has remained one of the most dangerous places for Christians. According to WWL, of the 4,476 Christians killed for faith around the world during the reporting period, 3,100 (69%) were in Nigeria.
“The scale of anti-Christian violence in this country is already at the highest possible level under the global watch list methodology,” the report states.
In the north-central zone of the country, where Christians are more common than they are in the northeast and northwest, Islamic extremist Fulani militias attack farm communities, killing hundreds of Christians and, above all, hundreds of Christians. Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State (ISWAP) of West African states are also active in northern states in the country where federal control is scarce and Christians and their communities continue to be targeted for attacks, sexual violence and the killing of disability. Ransom aid has been increasing significantly in recent years.
The violence spreads across southern states, with new jihadist terrorist group Lakrawa appearing in the northwest, armed with sophisticated weapons and an extremist agenda, WWL noted. Lakrawa is affiliated with the expansionist al-Qaeda rebellion Jamaa Nusrat ul Islam Wa al-Muslimin, or Zinim, which is derived from Mali.
Nigeria ranked 7th in the 2025 WWL list of 50 worst countries for Christians.
